Theatre

MIDDLE SCHOOL THEATRE PROGRAMS

David Starr Jordan

Theater program will begin in the Fall of 2017

Luther Burbank

Theater program will begin in the Fall of 2017

John Muir

John Muir Middle School Drama consists of three levels:

In the student’s sixth grade year they get the chance to sample our drama program for ten weeks in our BEGINNING DRAMA class in the Elective Wheel. Students learn the basics of pantomime, improvisation, and cold reading while getting used to being on stage and playing fun games that reinforce these skills. It’s a class that works for kids that are very shy as well as for the born performer.

In seventh grade students can be a part of the year long INTERMEDIATE DRAMA class. This class focuses on building an ensemble of performers and teaches kids about Greek tragedy, elements of comedy, parody, satire, melodrama, advanced improvisation, monologues and scene work. They will write their own scenes and monologues as well as get a chance to practice interpretation by performing famous theatrical pieces. Students in this class spend most of their time up on their feet performing, but still leave with a solid academic base. Each semester the class performs in a nighttime “friends and family” invitation-only showcase in our auditorium.

PLAY PRODUCTION is for eighth graders and the class does the work of rehearsing and preparing to put on the school play. These students audition to get into the class, select the play, audition for parts, rehearse after school, and perform in front of the entire John Muir Middle School student body and the public. During the time that preparation for the play isn’t our focus these students work on monologues, character development, and sketch writing.

HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE PROGRAMS

Drama I Grade 9-12

Prerequisites: None.

Drama I is the introductory course of the drama program. During the two semesters of the class, students will explore several aspects of the theatre arts including acting, directing, technical theatre, theatre history and literature and how to critically analyze a script or performance. This course may be repeated for credit.

Drama II Grade 9-12

Prerequisites: Completion of Drama I with a grade of “B” or higher (recommended); admittance approval by instructor (required); an audition may be required. This course may be repeated for credit.

Drama II is the intermediate theatre course of the drama program. Designed to go beyond the needs of the general student, the instructor will only admit students into this class who are deemed to be capable of more advanced theatrical work. During the two semesters of the class, students will study the many aspects of the theatre arts in greater depth and detail than in Drama I. A particular emphasis will be placed on developing the student’s acting performance skills.

Play Production Grade 9-12

Prerequisites: Completion of Drama II with a grade of “B” or higher recommended); admittance approval by instructor (required); an audition may be required. This course may be repeated for credit.

This course teaches the fundamentals of Theatrical Production and covers Lighting, Sound, Scenery, Props, Stage Management and Costumes from design through building, rigging, running and strike for each area. Communication practices and technical skills to create and run a show are learned and implemented as crew for all shows in the BHS Wolfson auditorium for each of the Fine Arts Departments. Students taking this course will learn all aspects of managing theatrical systems and how they are different for performances in Instrumental Music, Vocal Music and Showchoir, Dance and Drama. Students learn the basics then advance through their chosen specialty area levels to be able to move on to college or entry-level jobs in all types of entertainment production.

Technical Theatre Grade 9-12

Prerequisites: None.

Students will learn the behind-the-scene skills necessary to be part of a stage crew. The course will cover stage management, set design and construction, lighting, and script analysis. This class may be repeated for credit.

The Burbank Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

The Burbank Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.